2013 F1 Australian Grand Prix Review

Kimi Räikkönen rounding turn in 2013 Australian Grand Prix win.
Photo © Paul Crock / Getty Images via Metro.co.UK

Formula One racing is back, as the 2013 Formula One season got started this past Sunday - March 17, 2013, with the 2013 Australian Grand Prix. The Albert Park area's Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, in Melbourne, Australia, was the venue for the season opener, which brought a few surprises to F1 racing experts.

Surprising to probably everyone, was the lack of safety-car involvement in an incident free grand prix. It just doesn't happen very much. If there aren't even any minor crashes, there's usually at least one mechanical failure somewhere on the track, often in a fairly precarious location.

The biggest surprise, at least for the supposed experts, was who came out on top in the end. They couldn't seem to believe who won the race, even though he had been a GP champion, not really all that long ago. Then again, maybe it was the former champ's team organization that was the real surprise. Their name hasn't been anywhere near the top of the class for several years, though they did start to get some attention last season, with this driver's return to Formula One.

The top three finishers on the day, were: 2007 season World Champion Kimi Räikkönen (Finland), driving a Lotus-Renault, won the race; Fernando Alonso (Spain), another former champion, brought his Scuderia Ferrari in second; Third best, was the top guy of the past couple years, Red Bull-Renault driver Sebastian Vettel (Germany).

Who would have thought that a guy who had 69 previous career podium finishes, and who had already won 19 races over the course of his career, could've managed it? Who would possibly imagine former champion Kimi Räikkönen could manage to win one lousy season opening race? Well, me for one. I mean, why not? It's just one freaking race, anyway. Taking time off from Formula One to try a little WRC rally driving, didn't ruin you. Go Lotus! Go Kimi Räikkönen!

Links to Formula1.com Australian Grand Prix recap, press conference and analysis posts, as well as NBC Sports highlights videos, follow below.


Race - Raikkonen and Lotus triumph in Australia
Posted at Formula1.com on March 17, 2013

Kimi Raikkonen put himself on top Down Under with an emphatic and unexpected victory for Lotus in the 2013 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix on Sunday...


FIA post-race press conference - Australia
Posted at Formula1.com on March 17, 2013

...Raikkonen: It’s the first race, so you don’t really know how it’s going to go, how the tyres are going to be. I didn’t really do any long runs in the winter. I knew that I had a good car, so I had a feeling that it was going to be a good race but you have to get through the first laps and then go from there...


Australia analysis - expect the unexpected
Posted at Formula1.com on March 18, 2013

F1 fans look set for a thrilling 2013 season, if Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix was anything to go by. After dominating qualifying, reigning champions Red Bull found themselves playing catch-up to Lotus and Ferrari in a race which saw Kimi Raikkonen ease his way to victory. The podium featured three champions, but there were scintillating battles throughout the field, including among 2013’s five rookie drivers, all of who finished their first Grand Prix...

Kimi Räikkönen's final lap at 2013 Australian Grand Prix via NBC Sports



Highlights from 2013 Australian Grand Prix via NBC Sports

2012 F1 Singapore Grand Prix Review

2012 Singapore GP at Marina Bay on September 23, 2012. Photo via The Telegraph.

The 2012 Singapore Grand Prix was the fourteenth race of 2012 Formula One. Marina Bay Street Circuit, the streets around the harbor area of Marina Bay in Singapore, was the home of this GP race on September 23, 2012.

The first three drivers to completely finish this race were as follows. Number one was Sebastian Vettel (Germany) of Red Bull Renault. Second through was Jenson Button (England) of McLaren-Mercedes. Fernando Alonso (Spain) from Scuderia Ferrari finished third.

Lewis Hamilton (England), in his McLaren-Mercedes, retired early yet again (gearbox). Though he's had more than his share of bad luck this year, Hamilton still held fourth place in championship driver points after this race.

Formula1.com review and analysis are linked below. Also included are a highlights video, and a results video from the SpeedTV.com guys.


Race - resurgent Vettel wins action-packed Singapore round
Posted at Formula1.com on September 23, 2012

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel jumped into stronger contention for the world championship after scoring a comfortable victory in Singapore over McLaren’s Jenson Button and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso on Sunday...


Singapore analysis - Vettel revitalises title hopes
Posted at Formula1.com on September 24, 2012

Once Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren had retired on the 23rd lap with gearbox failure, Sebastian Vettel had things all his own way in a Singapore Grand Prix which went right up to its two-hour time limit and thus ran for 59 rather than the intended 61 laps. Jenson Button gave chase but never looked like taking the fight to the Red Bull, while Fernando Alonso could count himself lucky to go home with third place on a day when his Ferrari was no match for either of them...

Formula 1 2012 Singapore Race Edit
Uploaded to YouTube by TheVivek33




F1: Singapore GP Results - 2012
Posted at SpeedTV.com

F1: Leigh Diffey, David Hobbs and Steve Matchett take a look at the results from Singapore. After Lewis Hamilton retired from the race, Sebastian Vettel took the lead and becomes a back-to-back winner in Singapore.

2012 F1 Italian Grand Prix Review

Lewis Hamilton wins Formula 1 Gran Premio d'Italia 2012 on September 9, 2012.
Photo by Getty Images via The Telegraph.

The 2012 Italian Grand Prix took place on September 9, 2012. The course for Formula One race number thirteen of the 2012 season was Autodromo Nazionale Monza, near Monza, Italy. McLaren-Mercedes may have had mixed results again, but they still gained ground in the constructors' championship standings.

Here's the rundown of the top three finishers. Starting from pole position, the race winner was Lewis Hamilton (England) of the McLaren-Mercedes team. Sergio Pérez (México), driving for team Sauber-Ferrari, was second. Fernando Alonso (Spain) of Scuderia Ferrari came in third place, increasing his drivers' championship points lead from 24 to 37 points.

Race winner Hamilton and third place Alonso were taken out of the race early in Belgium, the previous week. Meanwhile, the winner of that weekend, Jenson Button (England) from McLaren-Mercedes, retired early this time.

There are review and analysis links from Formula1.com below. One highlights video, and a results video from the guys at SpeedTV.com are also included.


Race - Hamilton supreme at Monza, as Perez shines again
Posted at Formula1.com on September 9, 2012

Lewis Hamilton dominated Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix for McLaren, to score his first-ever win at motorsport’s cathedral of speed and the team’s third victory on the trot...


Italy analysis - the magicians of Monza
Posted at Formula1.com on September 10, 2012

Barely a week ago at Spa, Lewis Hamilton, Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso were taken out at Turn One. On Sunday at Monza, all three were on the podium after a thrilling Formula 1 Gran Premio Santander d'Italia 2012. Hamilton’s flawless drive reignited his title charge; Perez showed yet again why he’s hotly tipped as a future champion; and the ever-canny Alonso somehow extended his standings lead from tenth on the grid...

Formula 1 2012 Italian GP Race Edit
Uploaded to YouTube by TheVivek33




F1: Italian GP Results - 2012
Posted at SpeedTV.com

F1: Bob Varsha, David Hobbs and Steve Matchett take a look at the results from Italy. Lewis Hamilton wins big at Monza and moves to second place in driver's standings.

2012 F1 Belgian Grand Prix Review

Jenson Button pulls away from first turn carnage at 2012 F1 Belgian GP on Sept. 2, 2012.
Photo is from The Fast Lane Car.

The first race after the August break, the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix was held on September 2, 2012. The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Spa, Belgium was the site of the twelfth race of 2012 for Formula One racing teams.

The three drivers to finish ahead of everybody else were as follows. First was top qualifier Jenson Button (England) of McLaren-Mercedes. Then, Sebastian Vettel (Germany) of Red Bull Renault came in second. Third place was earned by Kimi_Räikkönen (Finland) from Lotus-Renault.

The race started of with a bang ... well, several bangs. There was a multi-car pile-up at the first turn, which included the retirement of Lewis Hamilton (England) from McLaren-Mercedes and points leader Fernando Alonso (Spain) of Scuderia Ferrari, among others. When the safety car left the track, Button led the rest of the way.

Formula1.com review and analysis links are below. I've also included a highlights video, and a results video from the guys at SpeedTV.com.


Race - Button wins after first-corner carnage at Spa
Posted at Formula1.com on September 2, 2012

Jenson Button salvaged McLaren’s day after an explosive start to the Belgian race saw team mate Lewis Hamilton eliminated along with championship points leader Fernando Alonso, Sauber’s Sergio Perez and Lotus’s Romain Grosjean...


Belgium analysis - Spa drama helps tighten title race
Posted at Formula1.com on September 3, 2012

McLaren’s Jenson Button admits he still only has a very long shot at the 2012 drivers’ crown, but at least he has a shot after his masterful drive at Spa. Romain Grosjean’s turn-one misdemeanour, which eliminated championship leader Fernando Alonso, really mixed up the title fight. If Alonso was the biggest loser, Sebastian Vettel was arguably the biggest winner. The lap-one accident helped lift him to second in the race and second in the standings, just 24 points behind his Ferrari rival. We take a team-by-team look back at the 2012 Formula 1 Shell Belgian Grand Prix...

Formula 1 2012 Belgian Grand Prix Race Edit
Uploaded to YouTube by TheVivek33




F1: Belgian GP Results - 2012
Posted at SpeedTV.com

F1: Bob Varsha, David Hobbs and Steve Matchett take a look at the results from Spa-Francorchamps. Jenson Button turns his season around with a win in Belgium.

2012 F1 European Grand Prix Review

Poolside view at 2012 European Grand Prix on June 24, 2012.
Photo from gallery posted by Joe Baaklini at Biser3a.

The Valencia Street Circuit, in Valencia, Spain, was the site for Formula One's 2012 European Grand Prix race on June 24, 2012. It was the eighth race on the 2012 calendar.

Fernando Alonso (Spain), driving for Scuderia Ferrari, passed the checkered flag first. He became the first Formula One driver to claim a second win this season, and regained the championship points lead. Kimi Räikkönen (Finland), driving for Lotus Renault, took second place. Räikkönen had two seconds and one third place finish, at this point. Making it three former champions on the podium, Michael Schumacher (Germany) of Mercedes AMG Petronas came in third for this race.

Below are the links for two Formula1.com race reviews. Also included, are a few videos.


Race - Alonso triumphs in Valencia thriller
Posted at Formula1.com on June 24, 2012

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso scored a sensational victory for Ferrari - and Spain - in an action-packed 2012 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe in Valencia on Sunday afternoon, despite starting only 11th. And on a day when neither Lewis Hamilton nor Sebastian Vettel finished, Alonso went back into a healthy world championship lead...


Europe analysis - experience conquers youth in Valencia
Posted at Formula1.com on June 25, 2012

There are no guarantees in life - and even fewer in Formula One racing - as Sunday’s remarkable European Grand Prix proved. Only the wiliest fan would have bet on Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso winning from 11th on the grid. But in a rollercoaster race experience really counted, and as the sport’s younger contingent fell by the wayside thanks to issues and incidents, it was comeback veterans Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher who joined Alonso on the podium. We take a team-by-team look back at a captivating afternoon in Valencia...

F1 2012 European GP Valencia Race Highlights(HD) 720p
Uploaded to YouTube by VUDUYF1




F1 2012 European Grand Prix Official Race Edit (HD)
Uploaded to YouTube by VUDUYF1




F1: European GP Results - 2012
Posted at SpeedTV.com



Leigh Diffey, Dave Hobbs & Steve Matchett take a look at the results
from Valencia. Fernando Alonso wins in his home country after both
Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton have issues towards the end.

2012 F1 Monaco Grand Prix Review

Harbor view of Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2012 on May 27, 2012.
Photo by Getty Images via The Telegraph.

On May 27, 2012, the 2012 F1 Monaco Grand Prix was run at the Circuit de Monaco in the streets of the harbor area of Monte Carlo and La Condamine. It was race number six of 2012 Formula One.

It was also the sixth straight race with a different winner, creating a new record of consecutive different winners to start a season. Winning Monaco this year, was Australian Mark Webber, driving for the Red Bull - Renault team. German driver Nico Rosberg came in second for Mercedes AMG Petronas. Third place went to Spain's Scuderia Ferrari driver, and new points leader, Fernando Alonso.

Below, you'll find a couple links from Formula1.com, including a race review. There's also a few videos in this short version review.


Paddock Postcard from Monte Carlo
Posted at Formula1.com on May 27, 2012

...In Monte Carlo you’re never far away from a party and on Thursday night Force India’s Vijay Mallya hosted his now traditional opening event aboard his mega yacht, the Indian Empress. Antonio Banderas sipped champagne alongside fellow actor and huge Jim Clark fan Michael Fassbender, Las Vegas Casino mogul Steve Wynn, Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson, and Daniel Snyder, who is the owner of the Washington Redskins American football team...

...Among the famed from the film world knocking around the paddock were Monaco regular George Lucas, Men in Black star Will Smith, actor Liam Cunningham and movie maker Ron Howard...


Race - Webber makes it six winners from six races
Posted at Formula1.com on May 27, 2012

Red Bull's Mark Webber held his nerve throughout a nail-biting denouement to the Monaco Grand Prix, forging another little bit of motor racing history as for the first time ever a sixth different driver won the sixth race of the season...

F1 2012 Monaco Race Highlights HD
Uploaded to YouTube by FormulaOneExpert1




Official 2012 Monaco Race Edit HD
Uploaded to YouTube by FormulaOneExpert1




F1: Monaco GP Results - 2012
Posted at SpeedTV.com



F1: Bob Varsha, David Hobbs and Steve Matchett take a look at the
results from Monaco. Mark Webber wins at the historic track for the
second time in three years and makes it three in a row for Red Bull.

2012 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix Review

Sebastian Vettel earned first 2012 win at F1 Gulf Air Bahrain GP on April 22, 2012.
Photo by Paul Gilham / Getty Images via The Epoch Times.

On April 22, 2012, Formula One race drivers and their crews worked the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, for the 2012 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix. The race-winning and championship points-leading driver rotation that we saw in the first three rounds continued for this, the fourth race of the 2012 Formula One Season.

German driver Sebastian Vettel, of Red Bull Renault, got his first victory of the year. The 2010 and 2011 champion led for most of the race, after having started from pole position. Starting from the middle of the pack (11th), Kimi Räikkönen (Finland) drove his Lotus Renault past all but the race winner, on his way to second place. Räikkönen's teammate Romain Grosjean also landed on the podium for the first time this season, placing third. It was also the first career podium for the Swiss driver, who claims French nationality.

Below are related links from Formula1.com and some video for you to review this race.


Qualifying - resurgent Vettel takes Sakhir pole
Posted at Formula1.com on April 21, 2012

Sebastian Vettel bounced back to take his and Red Bull's first pole position of the season in Sakhir on Saturday afternoon, as former fastest man Lewis Hamilton bumped Vettel's team mate Mark Webber from the front row...


FIA post-qualifying press conference - Bahrain
Posted at Formula1.com on April 21, 2012

Drivers: 1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), 2 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 3 - Mark Webber (Red Bull)

Q: Sebastian, four races into the 2012 season and your first pole position of the season? I take it it's good to be back?
Sebastian Vettel: Yeah, it obviously feels great and I think this one I completely owe it to the team, to the guys. It wasn't the easiest start...


Race - Vettel holds off Raikkonen for Sakhir win
Posted at Formula1.com on April 22, 2012

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel leapt back into the limelight - and the lead of the world championship - with victory in Sunday's 2012 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. The world champion took the lead from the start and immediately out-paced McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and team mate Mark Webber. But it did not take long for the strength of the Lotus team threat to make itself felt...


FIA post-race press conference - Bahrain
Posted at Formula1.com on April 22, 2012

Drivers: 1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), 2 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus), 3 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus)

Q: Congratulations Sebastian. As defending champion it's always nice to get your first win of the season, even if it is at the fourth time of asking.
Sebastian Vettel: Yeah, I think it was an incredible race. Extremely tough. Sometimes we had a decent gap but still even from the start we had a very good start, which was crucial. I was unable to pull away immediately...


Bahrain analysis - Vettel makes it four from four
Posted at Formula1.com on April 23, 2012

Can the 2012 season get any more competitive? Four rounds in and we've had four winning drivers and four winning teams. That hasn't happened since 1983! Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull added their names to the list in Bahrain on Sunday, proving that you should never write off the reigning champions. Not only that, Lotus made good on their recent promise, with Kimi Raikkonen pushing Vettel all the way, suggesting their first 2012 victory is only a matter of time...

Sky F1 2012 - Bahrain GP Highlights (HD)
Uploaded to YouTube by FormulaOneExpert1




Kimi Raikkonen Admits He Should Have Won:
Sky Sports F1 2012 - Round 4: Bahrain GP
Uploaded to YouTube by FiveeNilF1




F1: Bahrain GP Results - 2012
Posted at SpeedTV.com

F1: Bob Varsha, David Hobbs and Steve Matchett take a look at the results from Bahrain. Sebastian Vettel becomes the fourth winner of the 2012 season.

2012 F1 Malaysian Grand Prix Review

Fernando Alonso in 2012 Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix. Photo via AUSmotive.com

The second race of the 2012 Formula One Season, the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix, was run on March 25, 2012. First to lap the Sepang International Circuit in Selangor, Malaysia (near Kuala Lumpur) 56 times on this rainy (51 minute delay early on) race day were Scuderia Ferrari and Spanish driver, Fernando Alonso.

Second to finish the race was Sergio Pérez (México) of Sauber Ferrari. Pérez is the first Méxican F1 driver to manage a podium result since 1971. Lewis Hamilton (England) was third to go by the checkered flag, in his McLaren Mercedes.

Nine different teams and ten drivers gained points in this race, where all but two cars finished. Although he was one of the drivers to make it all the way through, Sebastian Vettel (Germany) failed to pick up any points, for the first time in 23 races. Near the end of the race, the reigning champion shredded a tire upon colliding with another car. By the time he got back out from pitting, he had dropped from fourth to eleventh place.

Here are a batch of links (chronological order) from Formula1.com and a couple videos for reviewing this event.



Qualifying - Hamilton beats Button to Sepang pole
Posted at Formula1.com on March 24, 2012

Even McLaren had their doubts that they could beat Mercedes in qualifying in Sepang on Saturday, but an almost perfect first-run lap by Lewis Hamilton and a great second-run lap from Jenson Button secured the front row for them...


FIA post-qualifying press conference - Malaysia
Posted at Formula1.com on March 24, 2012

Drivers: 1 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren), 2 - Jenson Button (McLaren), 3 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes).

Q: Lewis, a first pole for you and McLaren here in Malaysia but a continuation of the team's fine start to the season today.
Lewis Hamilton: Yeah, it's been a good weekend so far. I think it's been a tough day to be honest with the changeable weather conditions and the temperatures climbing. Made some set up changes to the car, nonetheless we still managed to do some good times...


Race - Alonso holds off stellar Perez for Sepang victory
Posted at Formula1.com on March 25, 2012

Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix was won by Ferrari's Fernando Alonso from Sauber's Sergio Perez and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, but it was a race of two halves, and how different they were!...


FIA post-race press conference - Malaysia
Posted at Formula1.com on March 25, 2012

Drivers: 1 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari); 2 - Sergio Perez (Sauber); 3 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren).

Q: Fernando, Congratulations on a victory that you probably didn't expect at the start of the week but what about in the latter stages as the young Mexican was catching you?...


Malaysia analysis - Alonso keeps Ferrari in the hunt
Posted at Formula1.com on March 26, 2012

No one - Fernando Alonso included - left Sepang believing Ferrari now have a competitive car, but in tricky conditions the Spaniard's driving skills overcame the F2012's inadequacies - and all of his rivals. Closest was Sauber's Sergio Perez, the Ferrari driver academy member tipped for a future Maranello race seat, whose performance marked him out as a rising star - and ensured Felipe Massa's future with the team becomes the subject of even closer media scrutiny. We take a team-by-team look at Sunday's performances in Kuala Lumpur...

Formula 1 2012 Malaysia Highlights Race Edit (HD)
Uploaded to YouTube by FormulaOneExpert1




F1: Malaysian GP Results - 2012
Posted at SpeedTV.com

F1: Bob Varsha, David Hobbs and Steve Matchett take a look at the results from Malaysia. Fernando Alonso drives from 8th place to the front to win in Sepang.